Sheetsx-sheet l



Dec. 2, 1952 L. BONAMEAU APPARATUS FOR VARYING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AEROSOLS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Filed March 18, 1948 Lfb/VARD EON/M11540 Dec. 2, 1952 L. BONAMEAU 2,620,046

APPARATUS FOR VARYING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AEROSOLS Filed March 18, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 1 say/ so $14M Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR VARYING THE HAR C E I OF AEsosQL Leonard Bonameau, Brussels, Belgium, assignmto Societe- Anonyme Taco, Liege, Belgium Application March 1a, 1948, Serial No. 15,628 r In France March 19, 1947 In the employment of aerosols (micelles. or infinitely small liquid .or solid particlest in suspension in a gas orin air) it is. often found desirable to be able to regulate their characteristics, and-in particular to be able to. regulate between certain limits the dimensions of the particlesremitted by the aerosol generator, above all when the. aerosols are utilised for disiniection or for therapeutical treatment. In fact itisfrequently necessary to eliminate from the aerosols particles which exceed a given size, and the object ofthe present invention is to eifect this eliminationbysimple and effective. means." i h According to the invention this result is obtained by reason bithe: fact that the I aerosols, in their passageirom theoutlet of thewgenerator to'the place where they are to be used, are submitted to a controllable. action of centrifugal force. It will be understood that in submitting a current of aerosols to. the action (if-centrifugal force, one first of all causes sedimentation of the larger particles, since this force is proportional to the mass of the particles andthe-square of the speed. For a given effect ofcentrifugal force, there will be obtained the sedimentation ofjthe particles the dimensions of which exceeda given value. For regulating 'thi s' value the invention provides a corresponding regulation of the said effect, either by varying the intensity of the centrifugal force, that is, the speed imparted to the micelles, or by varying the duration of this effect, which then remains constant, on the aerosols. It is. obvious that one can vary simultaneously, the intensity of the centrifugal force and the duration of its action.

The invention also relates carrying into effect this process, this apparatus comprising, between the generator and the place where the aerosols are to be used, an adjustable curvated passage imparting a gyratorymovement to the aerosols in order to subject the latter to a controllable effect of centrifugal force. This adjustable passage is conveniently formed by a conduit the volume of which can be adjusted,

either by variation of its section, so as to vary to the invention withreferenceto the attached mins. (o1. l83--80) to an apparatus for 1 i it diagrammatic drawings and in which1 Eigures-l to 9 show part sectional elevations of ninedifierent forms. of construction, of the apparatus according to the inventionand in which Fig. I shows an embodiment havinganadiustable resilient helical member defining the cur: vated passage; i Fig. 2 is an embodiment having .a helical member slightly difierent from that of Fig.1;

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate similar embodiments in which the curvated passage isinthe formpi a groove; i

Fig; .5 shows an embodiment where the wall of the container defines a curvated passage the length of which can be varied by ,a plug,and

Figs. 6,7, 8 and 9-.ShOW similar embodiments of the invention. in which the curvated passage-is defined'by tubular members. a .j

.In the example illustrated in Fig. l, the apparatus. comprisesthe cap-l containing the product to be atomised, a nozzle 2 projecting. the pulverised product against. apermeable screen 3 formed by a perforated sheet or plate of metal or ,of insulatingmaterial and a cylindrical envelope A which fits the cap. and contains the said screen. A sleeve 5 is mounted to slide on a. cylinder- .6 arranged vco-axially within theenvelope 4. This sleeve is guided in a. neck. on thecover g'l'yof the envelope: and may be secured inanyidesired. position by means of a locking screwxli; A resilient helix 19 the interior. edge .of which. contacts the cylinder .6- and the exterior. edge of which contacts. the" envelope 4 .is fixed. lbyone of its ends directly or indirectly to the cylinder ltat -l=.ll.and at its other extremity to the cylirider'.5 at .l l. 1;

The aerosols. having traversed thescreentficpass along the helical path bounded .by the vhelix-B and leave the apparatus at the outlet 1 2. 'I'he: 'gyratory movement thus imparted to the aerosols removes from the latter the largest particles which return to the cap I. By regulating the position of the sleeveqfi one 'ma y compress or extend the helix 9, which latter rema i-ns'in-con tact with the cylinders 4 and 6, so as; to modify thetransverse section of the conduit which it bounds and to increaseor reduce the speedpi' the aerosols and thus the intensity of the action of centrifugal force. i

thtotally raised position of'thesleeve micellesleaving at 12 will be of the uppe nma of size. They will, on theother -hand, be"smallest when the helix llis compressed to the maxi-mum.

In theyconstruction illustrated, the screen 3 retains the majority of the moist particles, that is to say, those which havefnoflbeen 'sunlciently 3 finely divided to form a true aerosol. The elimination of these moist particles may equally be effected by any other suitable means.

It is also possible to project the atomised liquid obliquely against the wall of the envelope 4, so as to impart the said atomised liquid an impulse about the axis of the apparatus, and then to introduce it into the helical conduit.

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 2 use is made of a resilient free helix I3 compressed between the screen 3 and the plug I4 which latter has a sliding fit within the envelope 4 and may be secured in any desired position by means of the locking screw I5. The outlet I6 extends through this plug. The ends of the helix are formed so as to avoid fouling the surfaces engaging therewith. Under the effect of movement of the plug I4 the helix twists or untwists whilst maintaining its internal and external edges respectively in connection with the cylinders 4 and 6.

The helix of Figs. 1 and 2 may be replaced by a resilient rolled tube in the form of a helix with connecting turns. In compressing this tube along the axis of the helix a more or less pronounced ovalisation or flattening of its transverse, originally circular, section is produced, thus varying the area of this section.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 3, as well as that shown in Fig. 4, is based on the variation of the duration of the centrifugal action by causing the aerolsols to pass through a conduit of constant helical section but of varying length.

As shown in Figure 3, a cylinder 11 in which a peripheral helical groove I8 is formed, is mounted to slide freely within the envelope 4. To the latter is fixed a stud I9 which fits exactly in the groove I8 and guides the cylinder II in such a fashion as to move the latter longitudinally in the envelope 4, in the direction corresponding to that of the rotation which is imparted to it. The aerosols pass through the helical conduit as far as the stud I9, and leave by the outlet fixed to the envelope 4, in front of the said stud, which latter blocks the part of the helical conduit which is above it. It is sufficient to regulate the height to which cylinder [1 is introduced within the envelope 4 to obtain aerosols the micelles of which have the necessary restricted dimensions between the given limits.

The same result may be obtained by other suitable means. As shown in Fig. 4, the cylinder I1 may be mounted to rotate about its axis without longitudinal movement with respect to the envelope 4, the stud I9 thus being eliminated. The envelope 4 is perforated with a series of openings 2I, 22, 23 disposed in such a manner that when the cylinder I1 is turned one of these openings always covers a point on the helical groove I8, as a result of which the aerosols escape into a lateral casing 24 and finally leave at 20. The aerosols are thus collected at a height varying with the angular position of the cylinder I;I, after having been subjected for a. variable time to the action of centrifugal force so that the dimensions of the micelles vary accordingly. In the form of construction according to Fig. 5, the jet of aerosols produced by the nozzle 2 is directed obliquely upwards, tangentially to the cylindrical envelope 4, and issues with a helical trajectory between the envelope 4 and the concentric guiding cylinder 25, leavingthrougha conduit 26 provided in a plug 21 which is integral with the cylinder and has a sliding fit within the enevelope 4, a locking screw 28 enabling it to be fixed in any desired position. The axial displacement of the cap varies the length of the passage of the aerosols and thus the duration of the effect of centrifugal force.

It is also possible to employ a movable nozzle 2, for example one mounted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder 4, so as to be able to vary the pitch and thus the length of the helical trajectory travelled by the flow of aerosols between the the cylinders 4 and 25, which may then be fixed the one with re spect to the other. The cylinders 4 and 25 may be replaced by truncated cones or other surfaces of revolution.

Although the cylinder 25 is not theoretically indispensible, its employment is desirable in practice in order to prevent dispersion of the jet of aerosols.

In the examples shown in Figs. 6 to 9, a lid I25 is placed on the envelope 4 and is provided with an outlet I26 through which the aerosols escape into the adjustable passage imparting a gyratory movement to the aerosols.

In the construction according to Fig. 6, this passage is constituted by a flexible and preferably elastic tube I21, which forms a curved passage and has one end attached to the outlet I25, whereas its other end is connected to the point where the aerosols are used, for example a mouthpiece I28 if the aerosols are to be used for inhalations. The tube I21 may, for example, be made of elastic metal, rubber or the like, advantageously reinforced by a helical spring with practically touching turns.

It will be sufiicient to move the end I28 towards or away from the outlet I26 in order to contract or expand the curved passage of the tube I2'I so as to cause the action of the centrifugal force to vary and produce the sedimentation of a more or less important part of the larger particles. The volume and the section of the tube remain practically unchanged, but the centrifugal acceleration changes with the inclination of the curved passage, for instance the pitch of the helix if the curved passage is helical, whereas the diameter may also vary during the displacements.

In the example shown in Fig. 6, the curved passage is of helical form, although it may also have another form, for instance that of a spiral.

The displacements of the tube I21 may be obtained by means of any convenient mechanism, for example by acting upon a screw-couplingbox 29 having inner screw threads of opposite pitch extending respectively over half of its length, and cooperating with two screw-threaded rods 35, SI having also threads of opposite pitch and one of which is secured, for example welded, to the lid I25, whereas the other is bent at an angle and supports the upper end of the tube I27 by means of a collar 32.

Figs. 7 and 8 show particularly simple constructions, the aerosols evacuated through the lid I25 passing through a curvated conduit having the form of a U, for instance with a pointed (33 in Fig. 7) or a rounded (34 in Fig. 8) base. A median partition 35 is slidably mounted in a guide 3! which is integral with the curvated conduit and embraces the said partition in a fluid-tight manner. The position of the partition may be continually or gradually adjusted, for example by means of a pin 38 engaging a hole provided in the guide and in any one of a series of holes 39 provided in the movable partition. In this manner it is possible to vary the section and the average length of the curvated conduit the concave wall whereof is formed by the surface of the partition 35 which also permits of adjusting the rateof sedimentation of the greater particles.

As shown in Fig. 9, the movable element may form the outer wall of the curvated conduit 40, instead of constituting the inner wall thereof. The movable element H is mounted in a guide 42 integral with the conduit 40, in a manner similar to that of the partition 35 or 3B.

The term curvated used in the specification and claims for defining the passage of the aerosols includes as well the curved form as that which is determined by a succession of angular deviations, as shown for instance in Figs. 7 and 9.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the examples illustrated, but may be equally carried out in various other forms of construction. Thus the helical path may be replaced by a spiral path the length of which is regulated and which is twisted to a greater or lesser degree in order to vary the curvature of the'spirals. The various members may be provided in any suitable materials. for example in metal, glass,

plastic or moulded material or the like, and if necessary in an electrically. insulated material.

What I claim is: 1. A device for regulating the characteristics of aerosols for therapeutical use comprising, in

combination, a closed chamber, a nozzle disposed in said chamber to discharge aerosols into said chamber, a curvated variable passage having smooth walls adapted to impart centrifugal movement to a column of aerosols, separating means adapted to remove moistening particles from the aerosols disposed between said nozzle and said curvated variable passage, a discharge opening for the aerosols at the end of said passage, and externally adjustable means adapted to adjust the conformation of said passage during the operation of the device, thereby controlling the effective centrifugal force acting on the aerosols in said passage and producing sedimentation of oversize particles on the walls of said passage while maintaining the smooth walls thereof in curved form.

2. A device for regulating the characteristics of aerosols for therapeutical use comprising, in combination, a closed chamber, a nozzle disposed in said chamber to discharge aerosols into said chamber, a curvated variable passage having smooth walls adapted to impart centrifugal movement to a column of aerosols, separating means comprising a perforated member constituting a screen adapted to remove moistening particles from the aerosols disposed between said nozzle and said curvated variable passage, a discharge opening for the aerosols at the end of said passage, and externally adjustable means adapted to adjust the conformation of said passage during the operation of the device, thereby controlling the effective centrifugal force acting on the aerosols in said passage and producing sedimentation of oversize particles on the walls of said passage while maintaining the smooth walls thereof in curved form.

3. A device for regulating the characteristics of aerosols for therapeutical use comprising, in combination, a closed chamber, a nozzle disposed in said chamber to discharge aerosols into said chamber, a curvated variable passage having smooth walls adapted to impart centrifugal movement to a column of aerosols, separating means comprising a perforated member consti- 6 tuting a screen adapted to remove moistening particles from the aerosols disposed between said nozzle and said curvated variable passage, a discharge opening for the aerosols at the end of said passage, and externally adjustable means adapted to adjust the conformation of said passage during the operation of the. device, thereby controlling the effective centrifugal force acting on the aerosols in said passage and producing sedimentation of oversize particles on the walls of said passage while maintaining the smooth walls thereof in curved form, said variable passage being substantially U-shapedand being disposed-at the end of said chamber and having an opening adapted to slidably receive said externally adjustable means.

4. A device for regulating the characteristics of aerosols for therapeutical use comprising, in combination, a closed chamber, a .nozzle disposed in said chamber to discharge aerosols into said chamber, a curvated variable passage having smooth walls adapted to impart centrifugal movement to a column of aerosols, separating means comprising a perforated member constituting a screen adapted to remove moistening particles from the aerosols disposed between said nozzle and said curvated variable passage, a discharge opening for the aerosols at the end of said passage, and externally adjustable means adapted to. adjust the conformation of said passage during the operation of the device,

thereby controlling the effective centrifugal force acting on the aerosols in said passage and producing sedimentation of oversize particles on the walls of said passage while maintaining the smooth walls thereof in curved form, said variable passage being disposed above said nozzle, and said chamber forming a receptacle below said nozzle adapted to receive the oversize particles collected on said perforated member and on the walls of said curvated passage.

5. A device for regulating the characteristics of aerosols for therapeutical use comprising, in combination, a closed chamber of substantially cylindrical conformation, a nozzle disposed in said chamber to discharge aerosols into said chamber, a curvated variable passage having smooth walls adapted to impart centrifugal movement to a column of aerosols, separating means comprising a perforated member constituting a screen adapted to remove moistening particles from the aerosols disposed between said nozzle and said curvated variable passage, a discharge opening for the aerosols at the end of said passage, and externally adjustable means adapted to adjust the conformation of said passage during the operation of the device, thereby controlling the effective centrifugal force acting on the aerosols in said passage and producing sedimentation of oversize particles on the Walls of said passage while maintaining the smooth walls thereof in curved form, said perforated member extending transversely of said chamber above said nozzle.

6. A device for regulating the characteristics of aerosols for therapeutical use comprising, in combination, a closed chamber of substantially cylindrical conformation, a nozzle disposed in said chamber to discharge aerosols into said chamber, a curvated variable passage having smooth walls adapted to impart centrifugal movement to a column of aerosols, separating means comprising a perforated member constituting a screen adapted to remove moistening particles from the aerosols disposed between said nozzle and said curvated variable passage, a discharge opening for the aerosols at the end of said passage, and externally adjustable means adapted to adjust the conformation of said passage during the operation of the device, thereby controlling the effective centrifugal force acting on the aerosols in said passage and producing sedimentation of oversize particles on the walls of said passage while maintaining the smooth walls thereof in curved form, said perforated member extending transversely of said chamber above said nozzle, and said curvated variable passage being defined by a resilient helical member extending radially from a central longitudinal section to freely contact the walls of said chamber with a sliding fit and extending axially from a position above said nozzle to said externally adjustable means.

'7. A device for regulating the characteristics of aerosols for therapeutical use comprising, in combination, a closed chamber of substantially cylindrical conformation, a nozzle disposed in said chamber to discharge aerosols into said chamber, a curvated variable passage having smooth Walls adapted to impart centrifugal .movement to a column of aerosols, separating means comprising a perforated member constituting a screen adapted to remove moistening particles from the aerosols disposed between said nozzle and said curvated variable passage, a dis- 30 charge opening for the aerosols at the end of said passage, and externally adjustable means adapted to adjust the conformation of said passage during the operation of the device, thereby controlling the effective centrifugal force acting on the aerosols in said passage and producing sedimentation of oversize particles on the walls of said passage while maintaining the smooth walls thereof in curved form, said perforated member extending transversely of said chamber above said nozzle, said curvated variable passage being defined by a movable cylindrical element provided with a helical groove and having a sliding fit in said chamber and said externally adjustable means including a stud projecting from the wall of said chamber into said groove.

LEONARD BONAMEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,079,153 Topf Nov. 18, 1913 1,494,675 Ehrhart May 20, 1924 1,563,125 Ward Nov. 24, 1925 1,684,020 Hawley Sept. 11, 1928 1,735,694 Remington Nov. 12, 1929 2,166,574 Adolphsen July 18, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 143,446 Germany Aug. 12, 1903 58,559 Sweden Dec. 7, 1922 35,295 Austria Nov. 25, 1908 

